Glory and Joy: Recent Episodes
Rev. Cyril Chavis, Jr.
Cyril Chavis Jr. gives the Bible's answers to your burning questions. In doing so, he equips you to have a life filled to the brim with God's glory and joy, which is your highest purpose. Glory and Joy is a podcast that believes in the authority of the Bible, the importance of doing theology in community, the power of simplicity, and the dire need for informed Christian living. This is your biblical, confessional, and intellectual guide to your deepest desires.
Loving others is hard! We need God's free love when we need help and when we fail. Tune in as Pastor Cyril highlights the role of God's free love as we see to love others.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
We all love love, but what does it mean to truly live it, to truly enjoy it? Pastor Cyril kicks off our Love God, Love People series by challenging into true love.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
The Bible is sometimes either seen as hateful, or its place as an authority in our lives is laughed at. But what if you need the Bible to love, and you need to it to not suggest but to demand your love? Pastor Cyril talks about what it means for God to speak as we seek to live lives of love.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
We can often make ourselves at home with sin, but sin seeks to destroy us. Anger and depression can be places where sin seeks us, but God invites us to himself. Join us as Pastor Cyril teaches from the narrative of Cain and Abel!
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Have you been discouraged by that certain sin that you are fighting but can't seem to overcome? Pastor Cyril teaches on the nature of sin and ways we can fight it as we look at Adam's and Eve's original sin.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Life can be really hard. We usually grit through it, but why is it hard? And what is God doing in the midst of these hardships? Join us as Pastor Cyril teaches on the consequences of death now shaping the world.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Romantic love is something that many of us hope to experience in meaningful ways, but we have faced fear and frustration over and over. Is there hope that we can find this kind of love? Join us as Pastor Cyril teaches on the purpose and blueprint for marriage, romance, and Black love.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
You are running on fumes if you are not running on God's love. God is GOOD, and his love is abundant. Join us as Pastor Cyril preaches on God's abundance.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Not knowing our purpose can bring us to dark places. What is your purpose? You cannot begin to understand your purpose until you look to God. Join us as Pastor Cyril talks about why you matter and why what you do matters.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
The most common negative emotion this generation experiences is tiredness. We try hard to do self-care and create a work/life balance, but rest seems to escape us. Join us as Pastor Cyril talks about God's gift of rest to weary souls.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Have you ever struggled with trusting that God is good? Do his restrictions feel like a kill-joy? God is worthy of your trust, and he is leading you to delight in him. Join us as Pastor Cyril preaches on Adam's relationship with God in the garden of Eden.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
So often we fail to find joy in God's world. How do we set our eyes upon him and stand of him as we behold creation? Join us as Pastor Cyril preaches on creation being our worship leader.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Do you feel the chaos in your life? Do you need help higher than yourself? God is there to supply your need and reorder your chaos. Join us as we look at the first few verses of the Bible in our Firm Foundation series.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Pastor Cyril preaches on 1 John 2:28-3:15. We know the pain of not knowing if we belong to a family; how much more God's family? Jesus not only grants you the privilege of being God's child but also the calling to live as one. Let's develop confidence in our status as children by exploring what the life of a child of God looks like.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Pastor Cyril preaches on 1 John 2:15-27. There are moments in our walks with Jesus where we can be confused about his claims to be the Christ. Was Jesus who he said he was? Let's explore how we can develop confidence in who Jesus is and live in light of that.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Pastor Cyril preaches on 1 John 2:1-14. So often we try to have our cake and eat it too with Jesus, but the scriptures call us beyond seeking to have a half-way relationship with him as our king. Join us as we explore the beauty and power of obedience in our walks with Jesus.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
How to date, who to date, and enjoying singleness. Join Pastor Chris and Pastor Cyril as they discuss all things dating.
"How should college Christians keep God at the forefront of their romantic relationships? How do you date to marry when you're not ready to be married? Should you just stay single until you're ready to settle down? If so, how are you able to build that relationship up until you are ready if you have no prospects?"
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Chris' IG: @chris_reed5
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Website: https://ruf.org/ministry/washington-dc/
The resurrection really happened and brings real hope into our lives. Enjoy this bonus episode as Pastor Cyril explains 1 Corinthians 15:3-14 on the resurrection of dead people. He invites us to consider historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection and why it changes everything.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Chris' IG: @chris_reed5
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Website: https://ruf.org/ministry/washington-dc/
"What does it even look like to have Jesus at the center of your life? How do you stay grounded experiencing many new things, (relationships, living alone, going out, freedom) while keeping God at the center of your life?"
Have you ever felt that there was more to your Christian walk than simply praying, reading the Bible, and going to church? Join Pastor Cyril and Pastor Chris as they talk about what it means to have Jesus at the center and what this looks like in many different areas of college life.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Chris' IG: @chris_reed5
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Website: https://ruf.org/ministry/washington-dc/
Have you wondered if the Bible has anything meaningful to say to you? What could it possibly mean for a college student at Howard in 2024? Join Pastor Cyril and Pastor Chris as they explore how the Bible powerfully changed their lives in college and about how it can change yours.
Ministry IG: @rufathoward
Pastor Chris' IG: @chris_reed5
Pastor Cyril's IG: @cvchavis
The Bible Explained book: https://a.co/d/beqcARo
Website: https://ruf.org/ministry/washington-dc/
Thanks for tuning in y'all! Keep your eyes peeled for updates about season 3, which is coming soon. Please give us feedback! Take 2 minutes to rate and review us. See you next season.
"In my alone time with God, I tend to learn a lot and feel closer with Him. However, I often feel fearful of destruction maybe because of what I read in His word or I just feel super serious and not really enjoying the time with God! How can we as Christians feel the joy of spending time with the Lord like we do with our friends ?"
Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ talk about how to experience joy during our times of prayer and reading God's word. They talk about God's character, the "good" in the good news, our expectations during our alone time with God, and how to remain grounded in Christ through the ups and downs. If you are wanting to recover joy in your alone time with God, tune in!
IG: @rufathoward
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
"What’s the difference between a Christian and a Catholic? And which religion came first!"
Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ take on the topic of how to relate across differences in the broader Christian religion, particularly between Protestants and Roman Catholics. What are the points of unity? What are the points of difference? How did these two broad traditions develop? How do we as Protestants engage Roman Catholics? What are practical ways we can learn more about other Christian traditions? Join us!
IG: @rufathoward
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
Intro and Outro Beats: @j.treble
"I think my biggest question/concern is that now that I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen these adults that I’ve looked up to in the church, show different sides of themselves outside of 'Sunday Church.' Like why are these elders of the church so judgmental towards the youth and those younger than them, but yet, have these crazy pasts as well as still not living fully of Christ ? Idk if that’s a good question or something you can answer but in the past year I’ve noticed just how messed up some of our elders are yet they’re very judgmental within the church community lol. I’ve just never truly understood it."
Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ discuss messiness in the church, judgmentalism, good vs. bad judgment, how to pursue relationships across differences, and the power of grace within our lives and within the church. If you are struggling with how to engage the older generation of your local church situation, this is for you!
IG: @rufathoward
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
Intro and outro beats: @j.treble
“One question I can think of is this: What do you do when you feel idle during a season?”
Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ address the issue of motivation. They discuss the danger of idleness, the heart-level work that must happen to bounce back, the causes and situations that contribute to a lack of motivation, and the practices to embrace in order to reorient our lives. If you are feeling unmotivated, lazy, and in a "blah" mood spiritually, this episode is for you!
IG: @rufathoward
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
Intro and Outro Beats: @j.treble
"How do we know if other religions are wrong? I know for Christianity, our truth is that there is only one God who sent his Son to die for our sins, but there are other religions that have convictions maybe just as strong as ours. We have our own evidence for our beliefs, and they have their own evidence for believing what they believe. Would other religions be wrong? I don't know how to word this. Because they are wrong for Christians. Do we just coexist like we do now?”
Last week was part 1, and this week is part 2 of the above question! Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ pick up the last part of the above question about coexisting with people who hold other faith commitments. We talk about the complexity of living as a Christian in relation to the world, the power of love, and the necessity of the Spirit for bringing people into saving knowledge of Jesus. If you are wondering how to engage your non-Christian neighbors, this episode is for you!
IG: @rufathoward
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
Intro and Outro Beats: @j.treble
"How do we know if other religions are wrong? I know for Christianity, our truth is that there is only one God who sent his Son to die for our sins, but there are other religions that have convictions maybe just as strong as ours. We have our own evidence for our beliefs, and they have their own evidence for believing what they believe. Would other religions be wrong? I don't know how to word this. Because they are wrong for Christians. Do we just coexist like we do now?”
Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ address the first part of this question. This episode may be one of the most important episodes for how to be confident in your faith, to engage skepticism, and to have a firm foundation for what you believe. If you want to deepen your confidence in the Christian faith or explore the Christian faith claims for the first time, then join us as we chop it up on Glory and Joy!
IG: @rufathoward
Website: www.gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
"One topic in particular is Romans 8:5-8 when it talks about living according to the flesh and the spirit."
Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ discuss a question from a student related to a well-known passage about the flesh and the spirit. Have you ever wondered how we get the power to glorify and obey God? Have you ever wondered as a Christian if you actually have the Holy Spirit? We use the term often, but what is "the flesh?" What are some ways we can embrace a life submitted to the Spirit? Are you struggling with sin and wondering if God actually loves you even if you fail often? If so, this episode is for you!! Tune in!!
IG: @rufathoward
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
Intro and Outro Beats: @j.treble
Welcome to season 2! We are switching to a more conversational format, and we have a special guest joining us all this season: Pastor Russ!
Pastor Cyril and Pastor Russ discuss the question "Why is it important to understand the Christian faith in college? What has been your own journey in understanding the Christian faith, especially while in college?"
"How do we as Christians confront doubters? Sometimes I feel unequipped with the adequate knowledge to defend my faith against people who doubt it. Especially nowadays when it seems like so many people refuse to acknowledge God’s existence." This episode Pastor Cyril Chavis Jr. talks about apologetics -- the defense of the Christian faith against people speaking against it. We talk about how to speak, live, and suffer in a way that shows how glorious and enjoyable the LORD is! If you have a friend who you want to know Jesus, have been having spiritual conversations with classmates, or just are curious about different practical ways to learn more about apologetics, tune in!!
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
IG: @rufatdc
YouTube: https://youtu.be/HXlT7HWtV-8
"Something I’ve been going through recently is complacency in my relationship with God so I guess my question with that is, 'What to do when we feel our heart isn’t connected to him, or when we feel we’ve drifted from God? How to reignite the passion for the gospel, his word etc.''"
Pastor Cyril Chavis Jr. explores what we might call a spiritual dry spot. What are some reasons we go through these? Pastor Cyril explores our sometimes false expectations of the Christian life, practical ways people drift from God, and the truths and habits that must be in place to regain our passion for God. Tune in!! You don't want to miss.
IG: @rufatdc
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zz9qHZC11Ng
"I have been interested in learning more about Enoch." Pastor Cyril Chavis Jr. digs into a few things about what the Bible says about the historical figure Enoch. Pastor Cyril talks about Enoch's long life, his unusual passing into the afterlife, and the ways that he points us to Jesus. And as always, there is a moment where we tap into confessional documents and hear a practical tip! Learn how you can further glorify and enjoy God through learning about Enoch's life!
IG: @rufatdc
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
YouTube: https://youtu.be/n-jpzgPdi3s
"I would like to hear more sex/ sexual immorality. I feel it is not something that is heavily talked about in the church, besides waiting for marriage." Pastor Cyril Chavis Jr. talks about sex! Join us as we cover a few things that the Bible has to say about it. We talk about sex and its relation to humanity's purpose, its function, its goodness and power, and how difficult sex can be.
NOTE: In talking about humanity's purpose, we are talking humanity's collective purpose, not necessarily a human's individual purpose. We realize that God affirms a life-time of singleness and celibacy as a beautiful calling for many individuals the church.
IG: @rufatdc
Youtube: https://youtu.be/vK9BDCJzYDU
"Why isn't the Apocrypha in the Bible?" This week Pastor Cyril Chavis Jr. introduces you to a couple of reasons why the Apocrypha is not in the Bible. He talks about canon, the Hebrew Bible, Jesus' own view of the Hebrew Bible, and more. Tune in!
IG: @rufatdc
Website: gloryandjoy.buzzsprout.com
YouTube: https://youtu.be/gT4_FGSONXQ
"Can you talk about sins that are viewed as abominations if you practice them - even if you do claim to be a Christian?"
Pastor Cyril Chavis, Jr. answers this question by explaining what an abomination is, why they are abominable, what happens when Christians practice them, four things you need to know about repentance, and the importance of a local church community.
IG: @rufatdc and @rufhbcu
Website: www.ruf.org/dc
Pastor Cyril Chavis Jr. introduces you to Glory and Joy.
IG: @rufatdc and @rufhbcu
Website: www.ruf.org/dc